Fire hydrant



July 27, 1937.` A

ATTDRNEY Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE Divided andthis application June 4, v1935, Serial No. 24,938

10 Claims.

This invention relates to iire hydrants and refers particularly to thetype of hydrant in which the main valve is to a large extentcounter-balanced in its opening and closing -.movements with respect tothe pressure of water from the street-main, as fully shown and describedin my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,717,392, granted June 18, 1929.

The invention herein set forth refers to the `,counter-balancing meansand more particularly to "the safeguarding of the parts thereof duringthe removal and. re-introduction of the main valve.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 659,293,filed March 2, 1933, alflowed October 18, 1934, forfeited, renewed June4. 1935, and now Patent No. 2,020,365, issued .November 12, 1935.

` An object of the invention is to provide, in a fvalv'e' havinga'counter-balancing piston with vlpacking'rings operating in a cylinder,meansto prevent injury to the packing when it is nec- "essaryfto removethe main valve and then reintroduce the said piston into its cylinder.

Another object is to provide means for guiding the said piston into thecylinder. VStill'another object is to provide means for keeping-thepacking moistv and pliable.

Accordingto the invention the hydrant vcomprisesV ashoe and a stock, amain valve for controllingv the passing of water from the shoe to thestock, means at the upper end of the stock for raising and lowering thevalve, a cylindrical guide in said shoe, a piston operating in saidcylinderand connected to'the Valve, means havingzanupwardly turnedflange below andcon- V-nec'ted with said piston for guiding andcentralizing said main valve and said piston when intro- .l-ducing sameinto position in said hydrant. The piston may be secured to a shaftextending down from the main valve and the said piston may be providedwith cup shaped packing members extending from both sides thereof, whilethe flangedmeans may be retained on said shaft by bolts and so placed asto prevent injury to the packing members during the introduction of the.piston `into the cylindrical guide. ""The drawing illustrates anembodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a re hydrant embodying theinvention and having a portion of the stock or barrel removed forshortening the height thereof.

Fig. 2 is aside `elevation of the same.

tion 'I for connection with thewater supply rnain in the street. Theupper part `8 of the shoe is cylindrical and this parthas anannular'flangekv 9 which aligns Vwith the annular `flange II on thebottom of the lower stock section I'2, and these iianges arefastened-together with bolts I3. The upper and-lower stock sections .I4and I2 respectively are clamped together by a frangible coupling memberI6 and bolts I'I position this membervso thatwhenthe upper Asection ofthe hydrant (the part above theground) K is impacted byv a heavyblowsuch, for-instance,A as an v'automobile-truck, the said vcoupling memberwill fracture and thus prevent injury to the operating-mechanism of thehydrant. This frangible coupling member now forms the subject matter' ofthe parent application above referred to.

The upper section- I4 ofthe stock B is provided with theusual hosenozzles I8 having caps I9 and the usual steamer nozzle 2|, while itsupper end is also provided with an annular flange 22.

This flange supports and is bolted to, by bolts 23, a plate flange 24 onan oil cup casting 26, and a gasket 2T between said flanges provides awater-tight joint.

The bonnet C has an outwardly extending annular flange 28 terminating inan annular skirt 29. The flange is fastened to the upper stock sectionI4 by bolts 3l passing through the bonnet flange 28, the casting flange24 and the flange 22 on Vsaid stock section, while the skirt 29 enclosessaid flanges to give a smooth finished appearance to the connection asshown in Fig. 2.

The oil cup casting 26 has an oil reservoir 32 which has a recess `33 atthe bottom thereof and a standpipe 34 is mounted to communicate withsaid recess while its upper end is slightly below the top of saidreservoir.

The central part of the casting 26 and immediately below the reservoir32 is provided with a stuling box 36 through which the stub shaft 31extends. This stuffing box is filled with packing 38, contacted by thegland 39, while adjusting bolts 48 are provided for maintaining awater-tight joint around said shaft.

The stub-shaft has a screw-threaded portion 4| on its upper part whileits intermediate part which extends into and operates through thepacking 38 is smooth and unthreaded and terrninates in a square orpolygonal part 42.

The oil reservoir and the operating mechanism employed with thescrew-threaded stub-shaft are housed in the bonnet C, which is recessedat 43 and has an inwardly directed flange 44 at the bottom thereof. p

A cylindrical nut 46 extends through the upper end of the bonnet andsaid nut is screwthreaded at 41 to engage the threaded portion 4| of thestub-shaft 31, and said nut is'also provided with an annular flange 48which rests on the flange 44 of the bonnet and is retained therein by abushing 49 threaded into said recess 43.

The nut 46 is also provided with a weather cap 5| which prevents waterfrom reaching the operating parts and freezing therein.Y

The nut 46 has oneor more transverse holes 52 extending through same andthese holes are positioned below the level of oil in the oil vreservoir32 so that when the top of the stub shaft 31 is below said holes the oilwill enter the hollow interior of said nut and rise therein to thecommon level of oil inl said reservoir so that when said shaft iselevated the oil will be entrapped in the hollow interior of said nutand raised with 4said shaft.

The inner wall of the bushing 49 is grooved preferably in helical formas at 53 and the upper part of the nut is provided with a transversehole 54 so that when the oil is elevated in the hollow interior of thenut it will pass through said hole and communicate with the helicalgroove, while the excess oil will pass down through the vertical holeor= holes 56 in the flange 48 of the nut 46; f

Of course the bushing 49 may be removed for pouring oil into'thereservoir, but in order to prevent the necessity of such labor I haveprovided a small hole 51 normally closed by the plug 58. t A

The operating mechanism and system of lubrication now forms the subjectmatter of a companion application filed on even date herewith andbearing Serial No. 24,937.

The lower polygonal end of the stub shaft 42 ts loosely into a verticalpolygonal guide aperture 59 in the downwardly extending part of the oilcup casting 26 and the upper end of the valve rod or stem 6| is securedto said stub shaft while its lower end carries the main valve The mainvalve comprises an upper disk-like body 63 and a downwardly extendingtubular shaft 64. A series of disks of leather or other tough pliablematerial 66 on the hollow shaft and adjacent the disks 63 form a conicalpacking adapted in shape to t the beveled seat 61 of the seat ring 65which is detachably screwed into the upper end of the shoe while abottom annular plate 66 fitted loosely over the tubular shaft 64 isclamped in position against the bottom of said packing material and heldfirmly in position by means of clamping nuts 69. The leather disksconstituting the packing of the main valve are therefore tightly clampedtogether between the disk 63 and annular plate 68. The valve rod or stem6| extending downwardly from the stub shaft 31 is screwed into thedisk-like body 63 and pinned Ytherein to prevent rotation relative tothe valve, while th square or polygonal portion 42 of the stub shaft 31,working as it does in the polygonal guide aperture 59, prevents therotation of the main valve and its operating rod.

The disk-like body of the main valve 62 has drain ports 1| through whichthe water may flow from the stock or barrel B into the tubular shaft 64for draining the said stock when the main valve is closed.

'I'he interior and bottom of the shoe A is provided with an integrallyformed upstanding substantially tubular part 12 into which a bronzebushing 13 is internally tted to form a cylinder with an outwardlyflared top 14. About midway its height the tubular bushing 13 isprovided with a lateral drainage port 16 which com- -municates with anannular chamber 11 formed integrally with the tubular part 12. 'I'hisannular chamber extends a considerable distance above the drainage port16 and tubes 18 are so placed in said shoe and with their upper endsnear the top of said chamber so that a head of Water is alwaysmaintained in said chamber and consequently within the tubular bushing13 as later explained. The tubular shaft 64 has a piston 19 on itsreduced part 8| and is provided at both the top and bottom of the samewith cup shaped leather washers 82 and 83 respectively. These washershave their concave part extending away from the piston, and Washerplates 84 and 86 respectively fit within said cups and prevent thecollapse of the wall thereof. The bottom of the hollow shaft 64 isthreaded and a clamping nut 81 clamps the parts againstthe annularshoulder caused by the reduction of diameter in said shaft, while aguide member 88 has a nut portion 89 and a flared annular skirt 9| whichwill guide the piston 19 and its associated parts into the internal boreof the bushing 68 and will thus prevent mutilation of the cup shapedwasher 83.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of guide member which consists of a plate92 having an upturned edge and secured on said shaft by the nuts 81 and93.

When the hydrant has been opened by lowering the valve 62 and has againbeen closed, the water remaining in the stock B will drain down throughthe ports 1| into the hollow interior of the shaft 64 and thence belowthe piston in the interior of the bushing `13, and will flow out throughthe aperture 16 into the annular chamber 11. The only escape for thedrain water from this chamber is through the tube 18, so that a head ofwater will always be maintained in said chamber and consequently in theinterior of the bushing 13, and since the leather cup shaped packing 83is maintained submerged in the waste water this water will keep the samein a moist and 'pliable condition. Of course it is understood that theshoe is in communication with a source of water supply, and since theentire shoe would at all times be lled with Water the upper cup shapedpacking 82 would be constantly submerged in the water and wouldtherefore be kept in a soft pliable condition.

The piston 19 being positively connected with the main valve 62 andspaced therefrom, said parts are each adapted to be subjected to thepressure of water supply in the shoe, the pressure operating on theunder side of the main valve 62 and upon the upper side of the piston.By reason of this construction the main valve is substantiallycounter-balanced by the piston 175 lI9 which greatly reduces the amountof effort requiredto open the main valve. This counterbalancing'featureisof the same nature as the arrangement shown`v in my patent No.1,717,392, dated June 18, 1929.

When it is necessary to withdraw the main valve and said ringV from thestock of the hydrant and thereafter reintroduce the main valve, saidring and waste valve, it is necessaryrto prevent accidental injury tothe cup shaped packing 83, when the parts are returned to their workingposition. The use of the guiding member 88 or plate 92 insures theyreadyintroduction of the piston 19 and its associated parts into the bushing13 as the shape of the skirt 9| on the guiding means or upturned annularflange` on the plate cooperating with the ared upper end of the bushingwill positively centralize; the parts and insure against injury to thecup shaped packing 83. m other words, the guide means and flared upperend of the bushing cooperate to positively centralize and guide theparts to prevent injury to the packing.

Of course the hydrant illustrated and described herein may be modifiedin various ways without departing from the invention herein set forthand hereafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a re hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock and a bonnet part, a mainvalve for controlling the passing of water from the shoe to the stock,means for lowering and raising the valve, a cylindrical guide in saidshoe, a counter-balancing piston operating in said guide and connectedto the valve for assisting in the opening of said valve, and protectivemeans below and connected with said piston for guiding and centralizingsaid piston and said main valve when introducing same into position insaid hydrant.

2. In a re hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock and a bonnet part, a mainvalve for controlling the passing of water from the shoe to the stock,means for lowering and raising the valve, a cylindrical guide in saidshoe, a counter-balancing piston operating in said guide and connectedto the valve for assisting in the opening of said valve, and protectivemeans having an upwardly turned annular flange below and connected withsaid piston for guiding and centralizing said piston and said main valvewhen introducing same into position in said hydrant.

3. In a fire hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock and a bonnet part, amain valve for controlling the passing of water from the shoe to thestock, means for lowering and raising the valve, a cylindrical guide insaid shoe, a shaft below said valve, a counter-balancing piston on saidshaft and operating in said guide for assisting in the opening of saidvalve, packing members associated with said piston, and annularprotective means on said shaft and below said piston and packing membersfor guiding and centralizing said piston and main valve and preventinginjury to said packng members when introducing same into position insaid hydrant.

4. In a re hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock and a bonnet part, a mainvalve for controlling the passing of water from the shoe to the stock,means for lowering and raising the valve, a cylindrical guide in saidshoe, a shaft below said valve, a counter-balancing piston on said shaftand operating in said guide for assisting in the opening of said valve,cup shaped packing members associated with said piston, and annularmeans on said shaft and. below said piston and packing'i members forAguiding and centralizing said piston and main valve and preventinginjury to said packing members when vintroducing same into position insaidhydrant. l

5. In a re hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock', and a bonnet part, amain valve for controlling the passage of water from the shoe to thestock, a valve stern, means cooperating with said stem for lowering andraising the valve, a cylindrical guide in said shoe, a hollow shaftbelow the valve, openings in the valve communicating with the hollowinterior of said shaft for draining said'stock when the valve has beenopened and closed, a counter-balancing piston on 'said shaft `operatingin said guide, and means for maintaining a drain water level below thepiston, and means for guiding said piston into said guide. k

6. In a re hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock, and a bonnet part, a mainvalve for controlling the passage of water from the shoe to the stock, avalve stem, means cooperating with said stem for lowering and raisingthe valve, a cylindrical guide in said shoe, a hollow shaft below thevalve, openings in the valve communicating with the hollow interior ofsaid shaft for draining said stock when the Valve has been opened andclosed, a counter-balancing piston on said shaft operating in saidguide, openings in said guide for draining water deposited from saidhollow shaft, and means for maintaining a level of said water above saidopenings, and means for guiding said piston into said guides.

7 In a fire hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock, and a bonnet part, amain valve for controlling the passage of water from the shoe to thestock, a valve stem, means cooperating with said stem for lowering andraising the valve, a cylindrical guide in said shoe, a hollow shaftbelow the valve, openings in thev valve communicating with the hollowinterior of said shaft for draining said stock when the valve has beenopened and closed, a counter-balancing piston on said shaft operating insaid guide, openings in said guide, a chamber outside said guide andcommunicating therewith through said openings, and means in said chamberfor maintaining a water level in said guide above said openings, andmeans for guiding said piston into said guides. i

8. In a re hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock, and a bonnet part, a mainvalve for controlling the passage of water from the shoe to the stock, avalve stern, means cooperating with said stem for lowering and raisingthe valve, a cylindrical guide in said shoe, a hollow shaft below thevalve, openings in the valve communicating with the hollow interior ofsaid-shaft for draining said stock when the valve has been opened andclosed, a counter-balancing piston on said shaft operating in saidguide, a packing member on the shaft below said piston, openings in saidguide for draining water deposited from said hollow shaft, and means formaintaining a level of said water above said openings and said packingto keep the latter moist, and means for Iguiding said piston into saidguides.

9. In a fire hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock, and a bonnet part, amain valve for controlling the passage of water from the shoe to thestock, a valve stem, means cooperating with said stem for lowering andraising the valve, a cylindrical guide in said shoe, a hollow shaftbelow the valve, openings in the Valve communicating with the hollowinterior of said shaft for draining said stock when the Valve has beenopened and closed, a counter-balancing piston on said shaft operating insaid guide, a packing member on the shaft below said piston, openings insaid guide for draining water deposited from said hollow shaft, meansfor maintaining a level of said water above said openings and saidpacking to keep the latter moist, and means) having an upwardly turned`flange below and adjacent said packing member for guiding andcentralizing said piston and main valve and preventing injury to saidpacking member when introducing same into position in said hydrant.

10. In a re hydrant comprising a shoe, a stock, and a bonnet part, amain valve for controlling the passage of water from the shoe to thestock, a' valve stem, means cooperating with said stem for lowering andraising the valve, a cylindrical guide in said shoe, a hollow shaftbelow the valve, *openings in the vaive communicating with the hollowinterior of said shaft for draining said stock when the valve has beenopened and closed, a counter-balancing piston on said shaft operating insaid guide, a cup shaped packing member on the shaft below said pistonand having its open end extending downward, openings in said guide fordraining water deposited from said hollow shaft, means for maintaining alevel of said water above said openings and said packing to keep thelatter moist,`and means having an upwardly turned flange below andadjacent said packing member for guiding and centralizing said pistonand main valve and preventing injury to said packing member whenintroducing same into position in said hydrant.

y HERBERT M. LOF'I'ON.

